Solar greenhouse structure

ABSTRACT

A solar greenhouse structure includes a plurality of supporting frames, a light-permitting roof supported by at least one supporting frame, and at least one solar panel disposed below the roof and near the bottom surface thereof. The instant disclosure uses thinner solar panels, where the supporting frames can be less rigid, in lowering the solar greenhouse cost.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No.13/008,096, filed Jan. 18, 2011, now pending, and entitled SOLARGREENHOUSE STRUCTURE.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1.Field of the Invention

The instant disclosure relates to a solar greenhouse structure; and moreparticularly, to a solar greenhouse having a light weight andconfigurable structure.

2. Description of Related Art

With the increasing environmental awareness, solar power has been widelyadopted for practical use. Solar panels in sophisticated modern devices,such as solar batteries or solar heaters, are used to convert solarradiation into useful forms of energy such as electricity or heat. Toeffectively obtain solar energy, the solar panels need to be mounted atunobstructed locations, usually in an elevated manner, by speciallydesigned supporting structures.

A greenhouse is commonly used as an agricultural shelter havingdifferent types of covering materials that are usually transparent tosolar radiation. Due to the nature of this agricultural structure,greenhouses are usually built in locations where sunlight is abundant.Thus, intuitively, the rooftop of a greenhouse structure is an idealplace for mounting solar panels. However, most conventional greenhousesare not designed to host solar panels. Particularly, most light-weightor low-budget greenhouses, lack the structural integrity to host solarpanels on their rooftops. As a result, the remodeling cost forconverting conventional greenhouses is often very high.

In addition, externally mounted solar panels must be rigid enough towithstand adverse weather conditions, such as rain and hails. Therefore,the external mounting of solar panels usually requires the use ofthicker solar panels for added strength or additional protective layer.As a result, the cost of setting up a solar greenhouse is relativelyhigh. The attempt to increase structural strength inevitably adds weightto the solar panel.

However, conventional greenhouses often use vinyl coverings; their mainstructures are usually not designed to withstand excessive weightloading. As a result, the additional weight on the solar panels makesthem less suitable for external installation on conventional greenhousestructures, particularly to the roof structure thereof.

To resolve the above issues, the inventor researched and proposes thefollowing design solutions to address the above shortcomings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the instant disclosure provides a solar greenhousestructure. The purpose was to incorporate solar panels into agriculturalgreenhouses, especially for adding and protecting solar panels toexisting greenhouses and lowering the remodeling cost.

To achieve the above objective, the instant disclosure provides a solargreenhouse structure, which comprises a plurality of supporting frames,a transparent roof supported by at least one supporting frame, and atleast one solar panel disposed below the roof and near the bottomsurface thereof.

The instant disclosure has the advantages of reducing solar paneldependency on the ambient condition, requiring less supporting framerigidity, thereby reducing the overall greenhouse cost. In addition, thegreenhouse is allowed to remove the thermal insulating layer during thesummer time, to have cooler temperature with better ventilation. Theexisting greenhouse needs not to be remodeled. Instead, the solar panelof the instant disclosure is disposed directly into the existinggreenhouse.

In order to further appreciate the characteristics and technicalcontents of the instant disclosure, references are hereunder made to thedetailed descriptions and appended drawings in connection with theinstant disclosure. However, the appended drawings are merely shown forexemplary purposes, rather than being used to restrict the scope of theinstant disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a solar greenhouse structure for a firstembodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the solar greenhouse structure for thefirst embodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a solar greenhouse structure for a secondembodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of a solar greenhouse structure for a thirdembodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a solar greenhouse structure for a fourthembodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of solar panels hung off the supporting framesby mounting device of first embodiment according to the instantdisclosure.

FIG. 7A shows a perspective view of mounting devices of FIG. 6 fixed toa solar panel according to the instant disclosure.

FIG. 7B shows an exploded view of the mounting device of FIG. 6according to the instant disclosure.

FIG. 8A shows a side view of solar panels hung off the supporting framesby mounting device of second embodiment according to the instantdisclosure.

FIG. 8B shows an exploded view of the mounting device of FIG. 8Aaccording to the instant disclosure.

FIG. 9 shows the solar panel is arranged at a slope different from thatof the solar panel shown in FIG. 8B according to the instant disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The main feature of a solar greenhouse structure of the instantdisclosure is disposing solar panels inside the greenhouse, therebyreducing the solar greenhouse cost. By disposing the solar panelsinternally, the required mechanical strength of the solar panels arereduced, therefore thinner solar panels can be used. Correspondingly,the required rigidity of the supporting frames of the greenhouse isreduced also, which lowers the cost.

For the above thinner solar panels, more specifically, can besemi-transparent thin film solar module, dye-sensitized solar cells, ortransparent solar modules.

Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2, which show a side and front view of asolar greenhouse structure of a first embodiment of the instantdisclosure respectively. The instant embodiment is applied toagricultural type greenhouses. As shown in the figures, the solargreenhouse structure 1 a comprises a plurality of supporting frames 14a, a plurality of poles 142, a transparent roof supported by thesupporting frames 14 a, and a plurality of solar panels S disposed belowthe roof 18 and near the bottom surface thereof.

For the instant embodiment, the transparent roof 18 of the agriculturalgreenhouse is a plastic thin film, so the solar panels S are bettermounted on the supporting frames 14 a. For the mounting option, thesolar panels S can be hung off the supporting frames 14 a, such as byusing a plurality of mounting pieces (or mounting device) 13 a as shownin FIG. 1. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the solar panels S canbe mounted on the transverse bars 143 or longitudinal bars 141.

The agricultural greenhouse of FIG. 1 is only an example, which isusually located in regions having gusty regional wind. Thus, a windbreakstructure, such as the thermal insulating wall 12 is added as a windbarrier to shield the greenhouse and maintain its interior temperature.Meanwhile, acting as a wind barrier, the thermal insulating wall mayinclude an entrance/exit of the greenhouse, as shown in FIG. 2. Forlarge-scale nursing when the North wind occurs less frequently, the windbarrier can be excluded. At the top of the agricultural greenhouse ofthe instant embodiment, a crank 16 is disposed above the roof 18, or theplastic thin film, to provide a thermal insulating layer over thegreenhouse for enhancing insulation effect at night time. The materialmakeup of the thermal insulating layer varies by region, with someplaces using a mat as the thermal insulating layer made of rice straws,wheatgrass, etc.

There are various types of greenhouses. If the abovementioned roof 18 istransparent and made of hard materials, such as glass or plastic panel,etc. to support the solar panels S, the solar panels S can be disposedthereon.

By suspending or attaching the solar panels, the instant disclosureallows the solar panels to be disposed freely based on need. Aside fromutilizing the solar power, the solar panels further provide shadingsagainst excessive ultraviolet light from harming the crops. In addition,the solar panels can be mounted directly to the existing greenhousestructure, which help to reduce the remodeling cost and promote solargreenhouses for practical use.

On the other hand, the solar panels on the roofs of conventional solargreenhouses must be tightly patterned to shield against the rain andwind. However, for the hot summer weather where adequate ventilation isneeded, such design induces negative effect. For the solar greenhouse ofthe instant disclosure, the solar panels can be spaced apart from eachother below the roof. When ventilation is needed, the roof 18, or theplastic thin film, can be taken away to create at least one vent pathfor ventilation. Such condition is illustrated on the left portion ofthe solar greenhouse structure in FIG. 1, where the solar panels areabsent. If the roof is made of transparent and hard materials, mobileroof structures can be incorporated to meet the ventilation needs.

Please refer to FIG. 3, which shows a side view of a solar greenhousestructure of a second embodiment of the instant disclosure. The solargreenhouse structure 1 b of the instant embodiment is applied to plasticagricultural type greenhouses, with a plurality of large archedsupporting frames 14 b, a plurality of cross-beams 144, a plurality ofsolar panels S mounted on the supporting frames 14 b by a plurality ofmounting pieces 13 b.

Please refer to FIG. 4, which shows a side view of a solar greenhousestructure of a third embodiment of the instant disclosure. The solargreenhouse structure 1 c of the instant disclosure is applied to theHolland Greenhouse which is a modern type of greenhouse. The solargreenhouse structure 1 c comprises a plurality of inclined supportingframes 14 c, a plurality of cross-beams 144, and a roof 18 a made ofhard roof tiles. The solar panels S are mounted on the supporting frames14 c by a plurality of mounting pieces 13 c. For the instant embodiment,the roof 18 a usually comprises transparent glasses, which can evenallow the solar panels S to be directly disposed thereon.

Please refer to FIG. 5, which shows a side view of a solar panelstructure for a fourth embodiment of the instant disclosure. The solargreenhouse structure 1 d of the instant disclosure is applied togreenhouses built in a “bow” shape, which comprises a plurality ofarched supporting frames 14 d, a plurality of transverse bars 146, and aplurality of solar panels S hanging off the transverse bars 146 by aplurality of mounting pieces 13 d.

Please refer to FIG. 6, which shows a side view of an embodiment how thesolar panels S are hung off the supporting frames. To adapt to the solargreenhouses having supporting frame with different slopes and differentsunshine conditions at various areas, the present disclosure has aplurality of mounting device 13 to hang the solar panels S on thesupporting frames 14 in different inclined way. Each mounting device 13has a first holder 131 and a second holder 132 pivotably connected tothe first holder 131. The first holder 131 holds an edge of the solarpanel S, and the second holder 132 is fixed to the supporting frame 14of the light-permitting roof structure 18. Therefore, the solar panels Scan be arranged under the roof structure 18 in an inclined way accordingto the slope of the roof panel 18.

Please refer to FIGS. 7A and 7B, which show the mounting devices fixedto a solar panel and an exploded view of the mounting device of firstembodiment. In this embodiment, each solar panel S has four mountingdevices 13 arranged at four corners of the solar panel S. The firstholder 131 has a clamping piece 1312 to clamp one edge of the solarpanel S. The second holder 132 has a fixing piece 1322 fixed to thesupporting frame 14. The first holder 131 has a first base 1311 and thesecond holder 132 has a second base 1321. In this embodiment, the fixingpiece 1322 is a hook integrally formed on one end of the second holder132 opposite to the first holder 131. The hook 1322 is substantiallyL-shaped and hooked to the supporting frame 14, which is punched andbent from the second base 1321. Therefore, according to this embodiment,the solar panels S can be easily to fix the supporting frame 14 of theroof structure 18, just by a hanging action.

Please refer to FIG. 7B. Each of the mounting device 13 includes apivotal axle 130 connected to one end of the first holder 131 and oneend of the second holder 132, and an adjusting element 133 for adjustingan included angle between the first holder 131 and the second holder132. The pivotal axle 130 has a post portion 1301 and two cylindricalportions 1302 formed at two ends of the post portion 1301. The firstbase 1311 has one end is clamped to the post portion 1301, and thesecond base 1321 has one end is pivotably connected to the cylindricalportions 1302. In this embodiment, one end of the first base 1311 isrolled up to form a clamping portion 1311 and clamped the post portion1301. The post portion 1301 is formed with a blocked plane 1303 forlimiting the rotation of the first base 1311 related to the pivotal axle130. One end of the second base 1321 is protruded with two rollingportions 1323 in a rolled shape, and rotatably mounted on thecylindrical portions 1302 respectively.

Concerning the adjusting element 133, the first base 1311 has an leg1317 punched and bent partially therefrom. The adjusting element 133 hasa screwing rod 1331 passing the leg 1317 and screwed to the screwinghole 1320 of the second base 1321, and a spring 1332 disposed betweenthe leg 1317 of the first base 1311 and the second base 1321. Thescrewing rod 1331 extends coaxially through the spring 1332. The leg1317 is formed with a slot 1318 and the screwing rod 1331 passes throughthe slot 1318. The screwing rod 1331 can adjust a distance between theleg 1317 and the second base 1321, so that an included angle between thefirst base 1311 and the second base 1321 is adjusted. The spring 1332provides elasticity for expanding the leg 1317 at the included anglerelated to the second base 1321.

To enhance the supporting strength for the solar panel S, each of thesolar panel S has at least one supporting piece 15 disposed on a bottomsurface thereof. The supporting piece 15 is fixed to two of the firstholders 1311 fixed on the solar panel S. In this embodiment, eachmounting device 13 has a clipping tab 1315 extended from one edge of thefirst base 131 to clip on the supporting piece 15.

Please refer to FIGS. 8A and 8B, which show the mounting devices fixedto a solar panel and an exploded view of the mounting device of secondembodiment. In this embodiment, each mounting device 13′ also has afirst holder 131′ and a second holder 132′ pivotably connected to thefirst holder 131′. The fixing piece of this embodiment is a screw 1328screwed the second holder 132′ to the supporting frame 14′. Each of thefirst holder 131′ is screwed to the supporting piece 15 by a screw 1319.The fixing piece is a screw 1319 screwed the second holder 132′ to thesupporting frame 14′.

Please refer to FIG. 9, which shows the solar panel is arranged at aslope than lower that of the solar panel shown in FIG. 8B. If the solarpanel S would be arranged at different inclined condition. The mountingdevice 13 can be mounted at different location of the supporting frame14′, and the included angle between the first holder 131′ and the secondholder 132′ can be adjusted by adjusting the adjusting element 133. Forexample, in this figure, the adjusting element 133 is screwed tightlytoward left, and the left mounting device 13′ has a smaller includedangle.

Based on the embodiments of the instant disclosure, the advantagesinclude the reduced dependency of solar panels on the ambient condition.With the greenhouse providing external protection against hails andtemperature changes, the thickness of the solar panels can be reduced tohave lighter weight. By using lighter solar panels, the rigidityrequirement of the supporting frames of the greenhouse structure can belowered in reducing the construction cost. Thus, the overall structuralcost is lowered. Furthermore, the embodiments of the instant disclosureallows removable insulating layer for summer condition, which canprovide cooling and adequate ventilation effects. Also, the existinggreenhouse needs no additional remodeling, where the solar panels can beadded directly to the existing structure.

The descriptions illustrated supra set forth simply the preferredembodiments of the instant disclosure; however, the characteristics ofthe instant disclosure are by no means restricted thereto. All changes,alternations, or modifications conveniently considered by those skilledin the art are deemed to be encompassed within the scope of the instantdisclosure delineated by the following claims.

1. A solar greenhouse structure, comprising: a plurality of supportingframes; a light-permitting roof structure having at least one roof panelsupported by at least one of the supporting frame, the roof panel havinga top surface and a bottom surface; at least one solar panel disposedbelow the roof structure and near the bottom surface of the roof panel;and a plurality of mounting device, each mounting device having a firstholder and a second holder connected to the first holder, the firstholder holding an edge of the solar panel, the second holder fixed tothe supporting frame of the light-permitting roof structure.
 2. Thesolar greenhouse structure of claim 1, wherein the first holder has aclamping piece to clamp one edge of the solar panel, wherein the secondholder has a fixing piece fixed to the supporting frame.
 3. The solargreenhouse structure of claim 2, wherein the fixing piece is a hookformed on one end of the second holder opposite to the first holder, thehook is hooked to the supporting frame.
 4. The solar greenhousestructure of claim 2, wherein the fixing piece is a screw screwed thesecond holder to the supporting frame.
 5. The solar greenhouse structureof claim 1, wherein each of the mounting device further includes apivotal axle connected to one end of the first holder and one end of thesecond holder, and an adjusting element for adjusting an included anglebetween the first holder and the second holder.
 6. The solar greenhousestructure of claim 5, wherein the first holder has a first base and thesecond holder has a second base, the first base having an leg punchedand bent partially therefrom, wherein the adjusting element has ascrewing rod passing the leg and screwed to the second base and a springdisposed between the leg of the first base and the second base.
 7. Thesolar greenhouse structure of claim 6, wherein the pivotal axle has apost portion and two cylindrical portions formed at two ends of the postportion, wherein the first base has one end is clamped to the postportion, and the second base has one end is pivotably connected to thecylindrical portions.
 8. The solar greenhouse structure of claim 1,wherein each of the solar panel has at least one supporting piecedisposed on a bottom surface thereof, wherein the supporting piece isfixed to two of the first holders fixed on the solar panel.
 9. The solargreenhouse structure of claim 8, wherein each of the first holder has aclipping tab extended from one edge thereof to clip on the supportingpiece.
 10. The solar greenhouse structure of claim 8, wherein each ofthe first holder is screwed to the supporting piece.
 11. The solargreenhouse structure of claim 1, wherein the plurality of solar panelsare arranged under the roof structure in an inclined way according tothe slope of the roof panel.
 12. The solar greenhouse structure of claim1, wherein the solar panel is a semi-transparent thin film solar module.13. The solar greenhouse structure of claim 1, wherein the solar panelis a dye-sensitized solar cell.
 14. The solar greenhouse structure ofclaim 1, wherein the solar panel is a transparent solar module.
 15. Thesolar greenhouse structure of claim 4, wherein the roof structureincludes at least one selectively operable ventilation port.